Africa: Meloni invests to limit emigration

Limiting emigration from Africa by helping the continent's economy, while extending Italy's influence: Giorgia Meloni is promoting her “Mattei Plan” on Friday, with ambitions considered by some to be unrealistic, at a summit co-chaired by Ursula von der Leyen.

The President of the European Commission is in Rome to support this device, which has been carried out at arm's length by the ultra-conservative head of government Giorgia Meloni.

According to the government, the “Mattei Plan” will mobilize 5.5 billion euros for initiatives spread over fourteen countries, but according to an official report in November, less than two billion euros have already been allocated by Italy to specific projects, in the form of donations, loans or guarantees over several years.

Conflict zone: Gaza, DRC, Haiti... denounces the UN for “unprecedented” violence against children

From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of Congo, violence against children in conflict zones reached “unprecedented” levels in 2024, a UN annual report said on Thursday.

"In 2024, violence against children during armed conflicts reached unprecedented levels, with a staggering 25% increase in serious violations compared to 2023,” says the report by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The UN “verified” 41,370 grave violations against children in 2024, including 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed previously but confirmed in 2024, which is the highest number since the establishment of this monitoring tool nearly 30 years ago. A record that beats the one recorded in 2023, which itself represented an increase of 21% compared to the previous year.

With more than 4,500 killed and more than 7,000 injured, children continue “to bear the brunt of relentless hostilities” across the planet, deplores the UN.

Iran-Israel: Trump procrastinates before discussions in Switzerland

Donald Trump will decide on a possible American participation in Israel's strikes against Iran “over the next two weeks”, appearing to give a chance to a meeting between European ministers and Iran on Friday in Switzerland to try to move towards a diplomatic solution after a week of conflict.

Israel said that any help would be “welcome” in overcoming Tehran's nuclear program, which denies wanting to manufacture atomic weapons but defends its right to develop a civilian nuclear program.

Claiming that Iran was on the verge of acquiring an atomic bomb, on 13 June Israel launched a massive air attack against the Islamic Republic, which triggered the Iranian response. Since then, Israeli strikes on Iran have followed the firing of Iranian missiles into Israeli territory

First heatwave of 2025: Western France on orange alert

With temperatures above 35degC, France is experiencing its first heat wave of the year 2025 on Friday, according to Météo-France, which has placed 16 departments mostly located in the West under heatwave alert on Friday, before a peak expected on Saturday across the country.

Blazing sun, lingering bushiness and unusually hot nights... From Brittany to Poitou-Charentes via the Loire Valley or southern Occitanie, the thermometer should reach 36degC to 38degC on Friday afternoon, about ten degrees more than the seasonal norms, underlines the meteorological

Fourteen departments in the West, from Manche to Charente-Maritime and from Morbihan to Indre-et-Loire, were placed on heatwave orange alert (“be very vigilant”) as of Friday noon, as were the Rhône and Isère in the Center-East.

IN A NUTSHELL

Deputies completed the examination of a bill on France's energy future on Thursday, which now includes an immediate moratorium on all new wind and photovoltaic installations.

The law to legalize physician-assisted dying returns to British MPs on Friday for a second high-risk vote, after an intense debate during which the initial text was largely amended.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian is on Friday making a very rare visit to Turkey, his country's sworn enemy, a trip described by Yerevan as a “historic” step towards peace in the region.

A dozen world music industry leaders are expected Friday at the Opéra Garnier in Paris for the France Music Week summit, which looks at the future of the sector, before closing at the Elysée Palace.

Atletico Madrid, largely beaten by PSG when they entered the Club World Cup, relaunched at the expense of Seattle (3-1), for their second match in Group B, on Thursday at Lumen Field in Seattle.